STORRS — You can learn a lot about a basketball team from the maturity the players show in a variety of different situations. Some predicaments they create themselves, others the opposition forces upon them and still more are simply an act of nature.

The UConn women's basketball team did more than just beat DePaul 91-44 on Sunday afternoon in front of a crowd of 8,861 at Gampel Pavilion. They carried over the momentum from a huge snowball fight victory on Saturday into Sunday's game and being the competitive kids they are, they never let up.

"It was epic. It was awesome," Stefanie Dolson said of the snowball fight. "We went against some random people. We went out in the middle of the blizzard, so we couldn't see anyone. So we didn't know who these people were, but we just had an intense snowball fight with them. They thought they won, but they didn't. We definitely did."

So what does a snowball fight have to do with a convincing basketball victory on Sunday? Perhaps nothing directly, but it clearly shows the state of mind of the nation's No. 3-ranked Huskies (22-1 overall, 9-1 Big East).

Sunday, the Huskies were loose, composed and focused at a time when they could have been easily distracted by not having practice Friday and Saturday and just kind of having the game plan thrown at them Sunday morning.

Rather than be complacent about playing a 17-7 DePaul team that was playing without one of its best players, the Huskies called upon the intense competitiveness within them and played a crisp, efficient game.

"I think it shows a lot more maturity for us than we have shown in the past," Bria Hartley said. "I think that is a step in the right direction. We want to come out here and be focused for every game regardless of what the circumstances are."

Hartley and Dolson were at the heart of the focus. Dolson came within two points of her career-high with 23 points off an efficient 6-for-8 shooting night from the field and a 10-for-11 performance from the foul line. She also led the team in assists with five and pulled down six rebounds.

"For us to take two days off because of the storm and to come out and play the way we did I am definitely proud of that," Dolson said. "Today was a perfect time to see where we are mentally as a team. The way we came out today and played showed that it doesn't affect us and in that we can be ready no matter what Mother Nature throws at us."

Hartley had her second strong game in a row, finishing with 18 points on 7-for-11 shooting from the field, including 3-for-6 from 3-point range. She added seven rebounds. Breanna Stewart added nine points and a team-high nine rebounds. Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis scored just eight points on 3-for-9 shooting, but she played a very solid defensive game.

For the most part Kelly Faris and Mosqueda-Lewis combined to guard DePaul's best player, Brittany Hrykno. The Blue Demons' guard went into the game second in the Big East in conference scoring at 19.7 points per game. She finished with only three.

Hrynko missed her first four field goal attempts and her first three free throw attempts before finally scoring a free throw with 7:58 to play in the first half. Hrynko finished 0-for-15 from the field and had a game-high seven turnovers.

"When that happens, that is a function of the defense," DePaul coach Doug Bruno said. "It is not a function of we missed shots. There is a reason you miss them. You are put under duress by the opposition. So defense did a great job."

The Huskies also held the Big East's leading rebounder, Katherine Harry, who went in averaging 11.4 per game, to zero rebounds as UConn outrebounded the Blue Demons, 49-27.

"There still has to be a vigorous fight attempt to get every rebound," Bruno said. "I don't care if you are the leading rebounder in the Big East and you play UConn and they are going to focus on you and you are not going to have the same night against them that you are going to have against other people."

For the second straight game, the Huskies started the game with great focus and intensity leading to proficiency on both ends of the court. They shot 56.7 percent from the field and held DepUal to a 26.2 field goal percentage.

The Huskies went on an early 20-3 run to take complete control of the game at 24-6 by shooting 10-for-16 from the field while holding DePaul to 2-for-15 shooting. UConn made its first five field goals.

Leading 52-17 at halftime, the Huskies went on a 19-4 run to open the second half and cruise out to a 40-point lead, 71-31, with 13 minutes to play.

"I think as one of the upperclassmen it is definitely something that I try to do is come out and have a good start," Dolson said. "I think kind of setting the tone like that kind of helps the freshmen and sophomores (understand) that having two days off doesn't affect you and you can still come out and play."

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